As
football developed into the game we know today, two New Jersey
men stood out as pioneers. Amos Alonzo Stagg helped transform
the game from its soccer/rugby beginnings to what it is today.
Born and raised in West Orange, Stagg played football at Yale.
He became a member of the first-ever All-America team in 1889.
Stagg began coaching at age 27 and didn’t stop for 71
years! Stagg introduced all these things to football:

The
end-around

The
shift

Tackling
dummies

“T” and
wingback formations

Forward
passing

The
huddle

Man-in-motion

Numbers
on the jerseys

The
NCAA Division III Football Championship is named in his honor.

While
Stagg pioneered the way the game was played, Paul
Robeson became one of the game’s first superstar
players. In 1917, Robeson became Rutgers' first All-American
football player. Robeson’s many talents eventually led
him to other fields, but the Somerville High School graduate’s
football talents should not be overlooked.